Responsive communication system

ABSTRACT

A spoken communication system includes a plurality of domestic devices and a server. Each of the devices is responsive to spoken communication to communicate that spoken communication to other devices, and to receive spoken communications received by other communication devices. The server is in digital communication with domestic devices to communicate that spoken communication among the registered devices.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit under U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/361,728 filed Jul. 13, 2016, U.S. PatentApplication Serial No. 62/379,528 filed Aug. 25, 2016 and InternalApplication Number PCT/IB2017/052779 published as WO2018/011639 A1 whichare incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a communication system that isrestricted to a community, such as a family or other unit, and, inparticular, to a system that provides spoken, or oral, communicationamong family members. While the invention is capable of providing spokencommunication within a residence, it is also capable of providing suchcommunication among several residences and among several platforms forresidents that are outside of the residence(s).

Currently, home communication systems are permanently installedwall-mounted fixtures, known as intercoms, which require the user to belocated in front of the fixture, and press and hold a button whilespeaking into a microphone. The person to whom the communication isdirected needs to be near a corresponding unit. Such units requirehard-wired communication cable interconnecting the units, as well as asource of power.

Various web-enabled communication techniques are available. Some evenpick-up casual conversations without the conscious knowledge of theusers. Such techniques provide access to the communication by theservice provider. The service provider is able, through permission givenvia the user agreement, to record conversations and to extractinformation about the users from the on-line communications sent totheir computers to provide marketing pitches, and the like.Communications among family members are often very sensitive and mostprivate, and recording of such communication is typically not desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides spoken communication of a person in oneportion of a residence to another person in another portion of theresidence or in another commonly owned residence. Embodiments of theinvention provide communication with a person in a remote location.While it is already possible to place a cell phone call to a remotelylocated person, there is presently a need for the calling person toplace the call and the recipient to answer the call.

A spoken communication system, according to an aspect of the invention,includes a plurality of domestic devices and a server. Each of thedevices are responsive to spoken communication, to communicate thatspoken communication to other devices, and to receive spokencommunications received by other communication devices. The server is indigital communication with the domestic devices to communicate thespoken communication among the domestic devices by storing the spokencommunication received from the domestic devices, sending the spokencommunication to all other domestic devices, and removing the spokencommunication from storage.

At least two routers may be in digital communication with the server. Atleast one of the domestic devices is in digital communication with eachrouter. In this manner, a domestic device in communication with one ofthe routers in a residence is in digital communication with a domesticdevice in digital communication with another of the routers in adifferent residence.

The system may also include at least one mobile device in digitalcommunication with the server. The at least one digital device may beconfigured to send and receive spoken communication with other domesticdevices and mobile devices through digital communication with theserver. The server may be restricted to communicate with only devicesthat are registered with the server. The system or a domestic device maybe placed into a responsive or non-responsive state via spokencommunication or via a command received from the at least one mobiledevice.

Additionally, a domestic device may be unresponsive to spokencommunication below a threshold volume. A domestic device may also beunresponsive to spoken communication above a threshold volume. Further,the server may close a communication channel between devices a variableamount of time after the server detects spoken communication has ended.Digital communication between the plurality of domestic devices, themobile device(s), and the server may also be encrypted. The server maybe a physical server. The server may also be a logical server definedfrom a cloud web service.

In another aspect of the invention, a spoken communication systemincludes at least one domestic device configured to be positioned withinan occupied structure and each domestic device may be responsive tospoken communication and capable of sending and receiving spokencommunication. The system may also include at least one mobile deviceconnected to the Internet. The mobile device may include a mobilecommunication application that is configured to send and receive spokencommunication. The system may also include a server in digitalcommunication with the domestic devices and the mobile devices tocommunicate the spoken communication among the devices.

At least two routers may be in digital communication with the server. Atleast one of the domestic devices may be in digital communication witheach router. In this manner, a domestic device in communication with oneof the routers in a residence is in digital communication with adomestic device in digital communication with another of the routers ina different residence. Additionally, the system may further comprise aplurality of mobile devices and each of the mobile devices may send avoicemail to the server and the server may then send the voicemail toeach other mobile device. Each mobile device that receives the voicemailmay store the voicemail in the mobile device's local storage until auser deletes it. The server may completely remove the voicemail fromserver local storage after the server completes sending the voicemail toeach mobile device.

The domestic device may include at least one microprocessor, at leastone microphone, at least one speaker, and a wireless network card. Theserver may be restricted to communicate with only domestic devices andmobile devices that are registered with the server. The system ordomestic devices may be placed into a responsive or non-responsive statevia spoken communication or via a command received from the at least onemobile device. The domestic devices may not be responsive to spokencommunication below a threshold volume. The domestic devices may also beunresponsive to spoken communication above a threshold volume.

The mobile communication application may require users to entercredentials before accessing the mobile communication application. Thedigital communication between the domestic devices and the server may beencrypted and digital communications between the mobile devices and theserver may also be encrypted. The server may store spoken communicationsreceived from the mobile devices and send the stored spokencommunication to all other mobile devices in digital communication withthe server. The server may then remove the spoken communication fromstorage. The server may be a physical server. The server may also be alogical server defined from a cloud web service.

In another aspect of the invention, a spoken communication system mayinclude at least one domestic device configured to be positioned withinan occupied structure. Each domestic device may be responsive to spokencommunication from only authenticated users and be capable of sendingand receiving spoken communication. The system may also include a serverin digital communication with the domestic devices to communicate thespoken communication among the devices. The user may be authenticated bysubmitting a vocal profile to the server. The vocal profile may besubmitted to the server by supplying credentials to an application on adevice in digital communication with the server and then supplying thevocal profile to the application.

In another aspect of the invention, a method of communicating betweendomestic and mobile devices may include receiving spoken communicationat a first device configured to send and receive communication. Thefirst device may be a domestic device configured to be positioned withinan occupied structure or a mobile device. A mobile device may include amobile communication application. The first device may send the spokencommunication to a server. The server may send the spoken communicationto a mobile device when the first device is the domestic device. Theserver may send the spoken communication to a domestic device when thefirst device is a mobile device.

The method may further include sending only spoken communicationreceived from registered domestic devices and mobile devices. The methodmay also further include determining, at the first device, if the spokencommunication includes a request for the first device to enter aresponsive state or an unresponsive state. If it is determined that thespoken communication includes a request to enter an unresponsive state,the first device may enter the unresponsive state. If it is determinedthat the spoken communication includes a request to enter a responsivestate, the first device may enter the responsive state. If it isdetermined that the spoken communication does not include a request toenter a responsive state or an unresponsive state, the first device mayinstead send the spoken communication to a server. The method may alsofurther comprise entering the first device into an unresponsive state ifthe first device receives spoken communication above a threshold volume.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of this invention willbecome apparent upon review of the following specification inconjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a spoken communication system, according toan embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2a is a flowchart of a server program;

FIG. 2b is a continuation of the flowchart found in FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a domestic device;

FIG. 4 is flowchart of a domestic device program;

FIG. 5a is a more detailed flowchart of a domestic device program;

FIG. 5b is a continuation of the flowchart found in FIG. 5 a;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a device registration program;

FIG. 7a is a flowchart of a mobile device program;

FIG. 7b is a continuation of the flowchart found in FIG. 7 a.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, FIG. 1 depicts a spoken communication system 10 including atleast one domestic device 12 and optionally at least one mobile device22, each being responsive to spoken communication to communicate thatspoken communication to other domestic devices 12 and mobile devices 22.The spoken communication system further includes a server 14 in digitalcommunication with the domestic devices 12 and mobile devices 22. Aswill be described in more detail below, server 14 may be restricted tocommunicate with only registered devices that are registered with server14. Domestic devices 12 may be activated by a variable or set commandphrase and may only respond to authenticated users. In contrast to knownvoice-activated appliances that are web-enabled, communication system 10ensures that spoken communications are discarded and never keptpermanently on the server 14, and are only kept on devices whenrequested by the user (e.g., voice mail messages), which can beimmediately and permanently deleted by the user. However, spokencommunication system 10 still provides clear and near instantaneouscommunication among residents wherever located in one or more commonlyshared residences or even outside the residences. For example,communication spoken within a reasonable distance of the domestic device12 may be communicated. This may be accomplished by voice activationwithout the need to operate controls or otherwise require physicalinteraction with the system. However, system 10 has flexibility thatallows domestic devices 12 to be temporarily muted if it is desired tolimit the extent of the communication transmission.

Spoken communication system 10 may include a plurality of routers 18 indigital communication with server 14. One or more domestic devices 12may be in digital communication with each of the routers 18. This use ofrouters facilitates, for example, domestic devices 12 in communicationwith one of the routers 18 in a residence, such as a primary residencebeing in digital communication with domestic devices 12 in communicationwith another of the router 18 in a different residence, such as a secondresidence. The term “digital communication” can be via wireless Wi-Fi,wired Ethernet, Bluetooth, 3G, 4G, LTE cellular networks, or other formsof digital communication known in the art. All such protocols areintended to be included in the term digital communication unless aparticular protocol is specified. All digital communication in thespoken communication system, including digital communication to and fromthe server 14, domestic devices 12, and mobile devices 22 may beencrypted for further privacy and security. Server 14 may be a physicalserver of the type that may be physically located in a residence or maybe a logical server defined from a cloud web service of the type knownin the art. Server 14 is managed though a website or user managementportal 20, which may be accessed through any number of means, such asthrough a browser, or an application on a mobile phone or tablet.

One or more mobile devices 22 may be in digital communication withserver 14. Mobile devices 22 are devices that are web-enabled tocommunicate via a cellular network or other wireless network, such as asmart phone, tablet, or the like and include at least a speaker and amicrophone. Mobile device 22 may receive spoken communication from oneof domestic devices 12 via server 14 and transfer spoken communicationto domestic devices or other mobile devices. This allows system 10 tocommunicate spoken communication to a user who is out of the residencewithout the need to place a call to that user or receive a call fromthat user. Thereby, seamless spoken communication can be providedhands-free from inside the residence to and from a community user notwithin range of a domestic device 12. A community user is a user that isa member of a family or other community and has permission to be a userof the system.

Turning to FIG. 2a , a server 14 facilities the transfer of spokencommunication between each domestic device 12 and each mobile device 22.After the server 14 powers on at 110, the server 14 may start a Voiceover IP (VOIP) service at 112. The server 14 then enters an idle stateat 114, wherein the server 14 waits for spoken communication from adomestic device 14 or a mobile device 22. While in the idle state at114, the server 14 will determine if it has received a voicemail at 116.If the server 14 has received a voicemail, the server 14 will send thevoicemail at 118 to all mobile devices 22 connected to the server 14.After sending the voicemail, the server 14 will completely delete thevoicemail at 120 from the server 14. This helps ensure the security andprivacy of the spoken communications. The server 14 will then return tothe idle state at 114.

If the server 14 determines it has not received a voicemail, the server14 will next determine if it has received an audio stream request at122. If the server 14 has received an audio stream request, the server14 will next determine if the system is enabled at 124. If the system 10is not enabled, the server 14 will return to the idle state at 114. Ifthe system 10 is enabled, the server will open a communication channelat 126 to all devices connected to server 14. The server 14 will thenreturn to the idle state at 114.

If the server 14 determines that it has not received an audio streamrequest, the server 14 will next determine if a device is requestingconnection at 128 to server 14. If a domestic device or a mobile deviceis requesting connection, the server 14 will determine if the deviceprovides proper authorization at 130. If the server 14 determines thatthe device did not provide proper authorization, the server 14 returnsto the idle state at 114. If the device does provide properauthorization, the server 14 allows the connection and adds the deviceto the server registry at 132. The server 14 then sends configurationdata to the device at 138. This configuration data comprises all thedata the device requires to begin functioning. This data may includevocal profiles, system status, and other relevant information. Theserver 14 then returns to the idle state at 114.

If the server 14 determines that a device is not requesting aconnection, the server 14 next determines if a new user name is beingdefined at 134. If a new user name is being defined, the server 14 addsthe new user name to a database stored on the server and sends the newuser name to all devices at 136 connected to the server 14. The server14 then returns to the idle state at 114.

Turning now to FIG. 2b , if the server 14 determines that a new username is not being defined, the server 14 determines if a mobile device22 or user portal 20 is requesting to update router information at 140.This router information includes any information relevant to the server14 or a device identifying or communicating with the router, such as IPaddress, MAC address, or the like. If a request to update routerinformation is received, the server 14 will store the updatedinformation and update all necessary devices at 142. The server willthen return to idle at 114.

If the server 14 determines a router information request is notoccurring, the server 14 determines if a device is attempting to make acall at 144. If a device is attempting to make a call, the serverconnects the requesting device to a telephone network at 146 in order tofacilitate the call. The server 14 will maintain the connection betweenthe device and the telephone network until the conclusion of the call.The server 14 then returns to the idle state 114.

If the server 14 determines that a device is not attempting to make acall, then the server 14 determines if a new vocal profile is beingdefined at 148. If it is determined that a new vocal profile is beingdefined, the server 14 adds the new vocal profile to a database storedon the server 14 and distributes the new vocal profile to each connecteddevice at 150. The vocal profiles allow the system 10 to ensure thatonly authenticated users are able to access the system 10. When a userissues a spoken command, the device or the server 14 may verify that theuser is an authenticated user by comparing the user's voice to thestored vocal profiles. The server 14 then returns to the idle state at114.

If the server 14 determines that a new vocal profile is not beingdefined, the server 14 then determines if the system 10 is being enabledor disabled at 152. If the server 14 determines that the system 10 isbeing enabled or disabled, the server 14 sends the appropriate enable ordisable command to each connected device at 154. The server 14 thenreturns to the idle state at 114.

If the server determines that the system 10 is not being enabled ordisabled, then the server determines if a device is being enabled ordisabled at 156. If the server 14 determines that a device is beingenabled or disabled, the server 14 sends the appropriate enable ordisable command to the specified device at 158. The server 14 thenreturns to the idle state at 114.

If the server determines that a device is not being enabled or disabled,the server 14 then determines if a request to open a communicationchannel has been received at 160. If the server 14 determines that anopen communication channel request has not been received, the serverreturns to the idle state at 114. If the server 14 determines that anopen communication channel request has been received, the server 14 thenopens the communication channel and then determines if the spokencommunication has ended at 162. The server typically accomplishes thisby measuring the sound volume received against the typical ambient soundlevels. If the server 14 detects spoken communication, then theconversation between users is still ongoing, and the server 14 returnsto the idle state at 114. If the server 14 does not detect spokencommunication, the server 14 then determines if a variable amount oftime without spoken communication at 164. This variable time can beadjusted for the optimum time for the users of the system 10. If theserver 14 determines that a variable amount of time has not passed, thenthe server 14 will return to the idle state at 114. If the server 14determines that a variable amount of time has passed, the server 14determines that the conversation between users has ended and closes thecommunication channel at 166. The server 14 then returns to the idlestate at 114.

Turning to FIG. 3, domestic devices 12 include a processor 30, such as amicro-processor, programmable gate array, or the like. Domestic devices12 may include multiple processors for performance or other benefits.Domestic devices also include a Wi-Fi interface defined by a Wi-Fi card32, at least one microphone input 34 to processor 30, and at least onespeaker 36 annunciating audio output. The domestic device 12 may includemultiple microphones or speakers for noise cancellation, stereo output,and the like. It is understood that this is a non-limiting example of adomestic device 12 components. Domestic devices 12 may utilize anynumber of other common computer processing components in order tofacilitate sending and receiving spoken communication. Some examplescould be RAM, nonvolatile storage, or other common communication andproceeding elements. Processor 30 executes a voice activation programthat is responsive to audio input having a particular characteristic forcommunicating that audio input to at least one other of the devices. Anydevice with the suitable hardware (speaker, microphone, etc.) may beused as a domestic device and to execute the domestic device program.This includes many popular “smart speakers” on the market today, such asAmazon Echo and Google Home. The domestic device program is described indetail below and in FIGS. 4, 5 a, and 5 b. The program may be updated ortransferred to the domestic device 12 in any number of ways. Forexample, a USB memory device may be provided to supply the program orother code to the processor 30, such as via a USB slot. The program mayalso be updated via the wireless connection. Domestic devices 12 areadapted to be positioned within a residence, such as attached to a wall,supported from a table, or the like.

FIG. 4, FIG. 5a , and FIG. 5b depict flowcharts for a domestic deviceprogram executing on processor 30. After the domestic device 12 powerson at 204 and begins executing the program at 206, the domestic deviceprogram establishes multi-way communication between other devices at208. This multi-way communication may, for example, be establishedthrough an application programming interface (API). Specifically in FIG.5a , the domestic device program first determines if the domestic device12 is registered at 210 to a router 18 and/or server 14. If the domesticdevice program is not registered, it proceeds to the registration phaseat 212 (see FIG. 6). If the domestic device program is registered, thedomestic device program next attempts connecting at 214 to server 14.The domestic device program verifies connection with the server 14 at216. If it does not have connection, the domestic device program returnsto attempting to connect at 214 to server 14. If the domestic deviceprogram does have connection to the server 14, the domestic deviceprogram next receives configuration data at 218 from the server 14. Thisconfiguration data comprises all the data the domestic device requiresto begin functioning. This data may include vocal profiles, systemstatus, and other relevant information. After receiving theconfiguration data, the domestic device program enables the microphoneinput(s) and enables the speaker(s) at 220.

Next, the domestic device program enters an idle state at 222. From theidle state, the domestic device program again determines if it isconnected at 224 to the server 14. If it is not, the domestic deviceprogram returns attempting to connect at 214 to server 14. If thedomestic device program is connected to the server 14, it nextdetermines if it has received an enable or disable command at 226 fromthe server 14. The domestic device 12 receives commands from the user bythe user speaking an activation word or phrase followed by a command.Both the activation phrase and the commands may be defined by the user.For example, the activation word may by “system” and the command may be“enable.” The user could then provide a system enable command byspeaking “system enable” within range of a domestic device 12. Anyreasonable number of activation words and commands can be created andstored by the server 14. Additionally, the activation words and commandsmay be in any language. If the domestic device program has received anenable or disable command, the domestic device program provides an audioalert via the speaker 36 and appropriately enables or disables at 228.The domestic device program then returns to the idle state at 222. Ifdomestic device program has not received such a command, it nextdetermines if a communication channel has been opened at 230 by theserver 14. If it has, domestic device 12 determines if it is a standbymode at 232. Standby mode is defined as a mode where the domestic devicewill only respond to an enable command. All other commands, such as onesto establish communication to other users, will be ignored. If thedomestic device is in a standby mode, the domestic device disregards theopen communication channel and returns to the idle state at 222. If thedomestic device is not in a standby mode, the domestic device programprovides an audio alert via the speaker 36, and sends and receivesspoken communication to and from the server 14 via the microphone 34 andspeaker 36 to establish communication at 234. The domestic deviceprogram then returns to the idle state at 222.

If the domestic device program determines a communication channel hasnot been opened, it next determines if the microphone is detecting soundat 236. If it is not, the domestic device program returns to the idlestate at 222. Detecting sound includes determining if the detected soundis above a variable threshold. This variable threshold is provided inorder adapt to the specific location and ambient sound level of eachdomestic device 12 and to specific user needs and desires. If it doesdetect sound, then the domestic device program next determines if thesound is above a variable cutoff threshold at 238. The variable cutoffthreshold is provided in order to ensure that certain spokencommunication is not analyzed or recorded. If the sound is above thevariable cutoff threshold, the domestic device program requests that theserver 14 disable the system at 240. Moving to FIG. 5b , if the sound isbelow the variable cutoff threshold, the domestic device program recordsthe audio clip at 242. The domestic device program then determines ifthe audio clip is an authenticated voice at 244. This feature allows thesystem 10 to restrict the use of the system 10 to specific individuals.If the voice is not authenticated, the domestic device program deletesthe audio clip and returns to the idle state at 222. If the audio clipis an authenticated voice, the domestic device program next determinesif the audio clip is an enable or disable command at 246. This commandcan be directed toward a specific device or the system 10 as a whole. Ifthe audio clip is an enable or disable command, the domestic deviceprogram provides an audio alert via the speaker 36, and sends theappropriate enable or disable request at 248 to the server 14. Thedomestic device program then deletes the audio clip at 256 and returnsto the idle state at 222.

If the domestic device program determines that the audio clip is not anenable or disable command, it next determines if the domestic device 12is in standby mode at 250. The device is placed into standby mode afterit received a disable request from the user or the server 14. If thedomestic device 12 is in standby mode, the domestic device programdeletes the audio clip at 256 and returns to the idle state at 222. Ifthe domestic device 12 is not in standby mode, the domestic deviceprogram determines if the audio clip is a voice call command at 252. Ifit is, the domestic device program provides an audio alert via thespeaker 36 and sends the call request at 248 to the server 14. Thedomestic device program then deletes the recorded audio clip at 256 andreturns to the idle state at 222. If the audio clip is not a voice callcommand, the domestic device program next determines if the audio clipis an open communication channel command at 254. If it is not, thedomestic device program deletes the recorded audio clip at 256 andreturns to the idle state at 222. If the audio clip is an opencommunication channel command, the domestic device program provides anaudio alert via the speaker 36 and establishes and open communicationchannel with the server 14 at 258. At the conclusion of thecommunication, the domestic device program then deletes the recordedaudio clip at 256 and returns to the idle state at 222.

As mentioned previously, the server 14 may restrict communications toonly registered devices. Turning now to FIG. 6, after the device powerson at 204, when the domestic device program determines that the deviceis not registered at 210, the domestic device program broadcasts a Wi-Fisignal at 310. Next, a user opens a registration application at 312 on amobile device, such as a phone or a tablet. This mobile device may ormay not be a mobile device 22 in digital communication with the server14. The user then selects a sync device option at 314 offered by theregistration application. The user then connects the mobile device tothe Wi-Fi broadcast by the domestic device 12 at 316, establishingdirect digital communication between the mobile device and the domesticdevice 12. Next, the user enters registration information into theregistration application at 318. Registration information can includeinformation such as usernames, passwords, account information, routerinformation, or anything else relevant to authenticating the user and/ordomestic device 12. After entering the information, the user selects tosync the domestic device 12 at 320. This allows the mobile device totransmit the registration information at 322 to the domestic device 12.

Then, the domestic device 12 ceases broadcasting its Wi-Fi signal, andinstead attempts to connect at 324 to the server 14. This connection maybe achieved through a router 18 or any other device that providesdigital communication with the server 14. This connection process mayrequire any sort of authentication or credentials inherent in such aconnection. For example, the device may need to provide a password toaccess the wireless network broadcast by a router 18. Either immediatelybefore or immediately after the connection is established, the domesticdevice program transmits the registration information to the server 14,in order to login at 326. The domestic device program then determines ifthe login was successful at 328. If the login was not successful, thedomestic device program returns to broadcasting a Wi-Fi signal at 310.If the login was successful, the domestic device program sends aregistry request at 330 to the server 14, so that the server 14 maystore the domestic device's 12 registration information to facilitatefuture connections. Next, the domestic device program enters the idlestate at 222.

A mobile communication application is run on a smart phone, tablet, orother mobile device 22 that is connected to the Internet through a Wi-Fior cellular data service, such as 3G, 4G, LTE, or the like. As shown inFIG. 7a , after a mobile device 22 powers on at 410, the mobilecommunication application determines if the user has opened theapplication at 412. If the user has not opened the application, themobile communication application determines if there is a pendingnotification at 414. Such a notification indicates that the user has avoicemail or other message awaiting playback. If there is such anotification, the mobile communication application displays thenotification to the user. If there is no notification, the mobilecommunication application returns to determining if the application isopen at 412. If it determined that the mobile communication applicationis open, it then waits of the user to enter proper login credentials at418. Login credentials typically include a username and password, butother authentication may be used, such as biometric authentication.After entering the proper login credentials, the mobile communicationapplication attempts to connect at 420 to the server 14. The mobilecommunication application will continue to attempt until a connection isestablished. The mobile communication application then enters an idlestate at 422. The mobile communication application then determines if itis still connected at 424 to the server 14. If not, the mobilecommunication application returns to attempting to connect at 420 to theserver 14. If the connection remains, the mobile communicationapplication determines if a new vocal profile is being defined at 426.If a new vocal profile is being defined, the mobile communicationapplication records the new vocal profile at 428. This is typicallyaccomplished by the mobile communication application prompting specificphrases of spoken communication from the user and recording the results.After recording, the mobile communication application sends the newvocal profile at 430 to the server 14. The mobile communicationapplication then returns to the idle state at 422.

If the mobile communication application determines that a new vocalprofile is not being created, it next determines if the user selectedvoicemail playback at 432. If so, the mobile communication applicationretrieves the selected voicemail from local storage at 434, and playsthe selected voicemail at 436 for the user. The mobile communicationapplication then returns to the idle state at 422.

If a user has not selected a voicemail, the mobile communicationapplication then determines if the server 14 is broadcasting spokencommunication at 438. If it is, the mobile communication applicationthen enables the mobile device's 22 speaker at 440 and audiblybroadcasts the received spoken communication received from the server14. The mobile communication application then returns to the idle stateat 422.

If the mobile communication application determines that the server 14 isnot sending spoken communication, then it determines if the userselected to transit audio communication at 442. It is understood thatthe mobile communication application could recognize the user's intentin any number of ways. For example, the mobile communication applicationcould provide a button labeled “speak.” A button could be a physicalbutton or on a touchscreen device. Additionally, the mobilecommunication application could be responsive to a spoken command. Ifthe mobile communication application determines the user does wish tosend audio communication, it then enables the mobile device's 22microphone at 444 and records the audio. It then sends the spokencommunication to the server 14 at 446. The server 14 is then responsiblefor broadcasting the audio communication to the proper device(s) (FIGS.2a and 2b ). The mobile communication application then returns to theidle state at 422.

Turning to FIG. 7b , if the user is not attempting to send spokencommunication, the mobile communication application determines if theuser wishes to send a voicemail at 448. A voicemail is defined as spokencommunication recorded and stored as an audio file that can be played ata later time. Similarly to sending spoken communication, the mobilecommunication application can recognize the user's intent in any numberof ways, such as a button or voice command. If the user does wish tosend a voicemail, the mobile communication application enables thedigital mobile device's 22 microphone and records the audio at 450, andsends the voicemail at 452 to the server 14. The server 14 will thenproceeds to send the voicemail to all other mobile devices 22 connectedto the server 14. The mobile communication application then returns tothe idle state at 422.

If the user is not attempting to send a voicemail, the mobilecommunication application determines if the user wishes to delete avoicemail at 454. Similarly to sending spoken communication, the mobilecommunication application can recognize the user's intent in any numberof ways such as a button or voice command. If the user does wish todelete a voicemail, the mobile communication application removes thevoicemail from local storage at 456. The mobile communicationapplication then returns to the idle state at 422.

If the user is not attempting to delete a voicemail, the mobilecommunication application determines if the user wishes to enable ordisable at 458 a domestic device 12 or the system 10. Similarly tosending spoken communication, the mobile communication application canrecognize the user's intent in any number of ways, such as a button orvoice command. If the user does wish to enable or disable a domesticdevice 12 or the system 10, the mobile communication application sendsthe appropriate enable or disable command at 460 to the server 14. Themobile communication application then returns to the idle state at 422.

If the user is not attempting to enable or disable a domestic device 12or the system 10, the mobile communication application determines if thedigital mobile device 22 has received a voicemail at 462 from the server14. If it has not, the mobile communication application returns to theidle state 422. If the digital mobile device 22 has received a voicemailfrom the server 14, the voicemail is stored in local storage and anotification is sent to the user at 464. The notification can take manyforms, such as displaying a message on the screen, sending a textmessage or an email, or other various means of notification. Then, themobile communication application returns to the idle state at 422.

Thus, it is seen that embodiments of the invention provide a spokencommunication system that is both versatile and unrestrictedgeographically, yet maintains all communication by the users of thesystem isolated from capture by systems on the Internet, and helpsensure privacy and security. Such Internet systems tend to builddatabases of users habits and characteristics in order to market to theusers and even potentially worse. By isolating the system from theinterception by others on the Internet, the system provides privacy withexceptional functionality and versatility.

While the foregoing description describes several embodiments of thepresent invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the artthat variations and modifications to these embodiments may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as definedin the claims below. The present invention encompasses all combinationsof various embodiments or aspects of the invention described herein. Itis understood that any and all embodiments of the present invention maybe taken in conjunction with any other embodiment to describe additionalembodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, any elements of anembodiment may be combined with any and all other elements of any of theembodiments to describe additional embodiments.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A spoken communicationsystem, comprising: a plurality of domestic devices, each configured tobe positioned within an occupied structure and being responsive tospoken communication to communicate that spoken communication to otherdevices and to receive spoken communications received by other of saiddomestic devices; and an internet connected server that is selectivelyin digital communication with said domestic devices and adapted toreceive a spoken audio stream request, said server responsive toreceiving an audio stream request by opening communication channels withsaid domestic devices that are connected with said server; wherein theserver is adapted to receive spoken communication captured by one ofsaid domestic device that is in communication with said server, whereinthe server is adapted to store the spoken communication received fromthe one of said domestic devices and send the stored spokencommunication to all other domestic devices in digital communicationwith the server over the open communication channels with the otherdomestic devices, wherein communication channels are open among saiddomestic devices that are connected with said server to communicatespoken communication among domestic devices that are connected with saidserver; and wherein the server is adapted to remove the spokencommunication from storage after the spoken communication is sent to thespeakers of all other domestic devices in digital communication with theserver and the domestic devices are adapted to only keep spokencommunication when requested by the user, wherein spoken communicationis not kept permanently on the server or the domestic devices whereinspoken communications by the users of the system are isolated fromcapture by systems on the Internet to thereby ensure privacy andsecurity.
 2. The spoken communication system as claimed in claim 1,including at least two routers in digital communication with the serverand at least one domestic device in digital communication with eachrouter, wherein a domestic device in digital communication with one ofthe routers in a residence is in digital communication with a domesticdevice in digital communication with another of the routers in adifferent residence.
 3. The spoken communication system as claimed inclaim 1 including at least one mobile device in digital communicationwith the server.
 4. The spoken communication system as claimed in claim3, wherein the at least one mobile device is configured to send andreceive spoken communication with other domestic devices and mobiledevices through digital communication with the server.
 5. The spokencommunication system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the server isrestricted to communicate with only domestic devices and mobile devicesthat are registered with the server.
 6. The spoken communication systemas claimed in claim 3, wherein the spoken communication system, or atleast one domestic device, may be placed into a responsive ornon-responsive state via spoken communication or via a command receivedfrom the at least one mobile device.
 7. The spoken communication systemas claimed in claim 5, wherein the domestic device is not responsive tospoken communication below a threshold volume.
 8. The spokencommunication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the domestic deviceis unresponsive to spoken communication above a threshold volume.
 9. Thespoken communication system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the servercloses a communication channel between devices a variable amount of timeafter the server detects spoken communication has ended.
 10. The spokencommunication system as claimed in claim 3 wherein digital communicationbetween the plurality of domestic devices, the at least one mobiledevice, and the server is encrypted.
 11. The spoken communication systemas claimed in claim 3, wherein the server is a physical server.
 12. Thespoken communication system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the server isa logical server defined from a cloud web service.